Nigerian Henry Okah was jailed for 24 years by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday. "Effectively, the accused [Okah] is therefore sentenced to 24 years
imprisonment," Judge Neels Claassen said as he handed down sentence.
On
21 January, Okah was found guilty on 13 counts of terrorism, including
engaging in terrorist activities, conspiracy to engage in terrorist
activities, and delivering, placing, and detonating an explosive device.
Car bombs
The
charges related to two car bombs in Abuja, Nigeria, in which 12 people
were killed and 36 injured on 1 October 2010, the anniversary of the
country's independence.
The second bombing took place in Warri on
15 March 2010 at a post amnesty dialogue meeting. One person was killed
and 11 seriously injured.
In both bombings, two car bombs went off minutes apart in both places. The cars were parked in close
proximity to each other.
Claassen
sentenced Okah to 12 years imprisonment for each of the bombings and 13
years for the threats made to the South African government after his
arrest in October 2010.
The 13 years would run concurrently with the 24 years.
In
January, during judgment Claassen said the State had proved Okah's
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and his failure to testify meant the
evidence against him remained uncontested.
Okah has denied any involvement, claiming the charges against him were politically motivated.
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